Abolishing the Royal Family

[FeelthewrathofthesuperRad]

Anyone else in favour of it?

I’m not entirely sure what their purpose is either.

[Pedallleur]

@StillGoingToWork

The Queen obvs has a huge hand in preventing her favourite son from facing justice. No-one's seen Andrew for ages, does she have him locked up somewhere?

He will be under legal instruction to stay quiet. See how the Maxwell trial goes first perhaps. Fergie has him locked up so they can be together. Daughters married off, new grandchild. Everything is good.

[GellerYeller]

If we don't watch out there will be some sort of vote off of the royals Big Brother style followed by a phone in overseen by Simon Cowell with Ant and Dec reading out premium rate phone numbers. Will your head of state be Scarlet Moffat? Sinitta? Dev off of Coronation Street? Vote now!

[Brahumbug]

What employer starts an independent investigation into criminal offences while these are actively being investigated by police?

Bullying can also be a criminal matter. Andrew isn't being investigated by the police, there is nothing to prevent the royal household looking into his behaviour

[GCAcademic]

No. We need them. Don’t forget that the Jeremy Kyle Show has been taken off air. Something has to fill that hole.

[sergeilavrov]

I was very pro-monarchy. I'm a conservative voter and agreed vehemently with all of the arguments about tradition, institutions, diplomatic usefulness and their role in generating revenue. I still believe all of those arguments have ground BUT now feel the racism toward Meghan and Archie coupled with the bizarre protection of a paedophile overshadows that sufficiently that I would strongly support abolition. I never thought in my life I would shift like this, but I have.

My DH laughed at me a bit yesterday when I told him I felt ashamed for being so in favour of them for so long after I watched the interview. I've felt more opposed to the monarchy ever since Kate and William complained about not seeing Archie after his birth on camera, but now I can't justify the institution at all.

[Frownette]

I'm not sure how I feel about them, it's a bit of a soap opera at the moment. Things will really change when the queen goes.

[shamalidacdak]

Absolutely! They should not exist in a modern society. Harry and Meghan should be the first for the chop.

[CupOfTeaAlonePlease]

Abolish it. 💯

[occa]

Ugh get rid. It's so weird to have a family who are supposedly 'superior' to everyone else because of their special royal blood.

And the tourism argument is pure nonsense. The UK would make loads more money if all the Royal residences and parklands could be opened to the public.

[Mally2020]

I think the definition of their role needs to be re-described because they are a tourist attraction now not leadership. They either need to remove birth right or redefine parliament etc

[Blueberries0112]

Too bad you can’t vote which family members should be the next throne. I think it is better than presidents who don’t know what they are doing - although I can’t compare monarchy to presidents

[Bouledeneige]

Good thinking Blueberries! We could have the ultimate game show where we vote them off one by one and they have games of skill to prove why they would make the best monarch! Like making a speech in French, cooking up a barbie for the US president, building websites and inventing a new RF logo, designing a garden makeover, fox hunting and shooting, riding a horse side saddle, best fancy dress costume and playing cricket with the England team. Also, best ribbon cutter, curtain puller, bottle smasher and most creative way of saying 'Have you come far?' And of course best charity appeal with choked back tears.

A sort of upgrade on the much maligned 'Its a Knockout.'

[Blueberries0112]

lol

[MrsFeatherDuster]

I don't really think that much about them though I do love watching the weddings. The interview did make me gulp a little and I would not like to be part of that family. What would happen if the UK countries were to go their separate ways, would they still want the RF to be part of their plans?

[LilyMumsnet]

We're just moving this over to the royal family topic.

[IrmaFayLear]

They are a good spectacle. And who doesn’t love a good bit of history - I believe the musical Six is very popular.

Be careful what you wish for. As a pp mentioned, do we want a celebrity as this country’s president? And who is completely blameless? What if right now they are doing something that will be considered dreadful in the future? Driving a diesel car? Eating meat?

At least with the rf you get who you get. No choice. No considerations.

[NoWayHosier]

Finally, who would open community projects, attend schools, honour those who have benefitted the arts, sports, community, raise the profiles of charities? Take an interest in and head the armed forces? Act as patrons of charities. All those things that mean so much to ordinary people (me included).

I feel very differently. I don't care who opens a community centre, the armed forces don't need a ceremonial figurehead any more than the staff of WH Smiths do, and there are countless very well qualified people who can head up charities. I'd find it ludicrous to be given an award by someone like Kate Middleton who hasn't achieved anything in her life other than getting a degree.

[sleepyhead]

@IrmaFayLear

They are a good spectacle. And who doesn’t love a good bit of history - I believe the musical Six is very popular.

Be careful what you wish for. As a pp mentioned, do we want a celebrity as this country’s president? And who is completely blameless? What if right now they are doing something that will be considered dreadful in the future? Driving a diesel car? Eating meat?

At least with the rf you get who you get. No choice. No considerations.

But is that enough to map out a child's life from birth?

Are you willing to sacrifice the mental health of 7 year old George (and if he chucks it then he knows he's just shoving his sister under the bus) now that we can see so clearly what it's done to the mental health of the current lot in waiting?

What if George wants to be a doctor? What if he's gay? What if he's a massive introvert and the idea of opening supermarkets and hosting state dinners makes him feel physically ill?

Can you honestly say that it's worth it just so we don't have the risk of having someone off a reality show as a limited term figurehead president?

[IrmaFayLear]

It’s funny - the Russians did away most spectacularly with their czars.

100 years later and the interest in them there is huge and the interim period is the one that is now being “forgotten”.

[Whatcouldshehavebeen]

I quite enjoy them. Like a circus.

[Iamdobby63]

Absolutely not.

[OldRailer]

Could we go back to the Anglo Saxon form of succession where succession wasn't in strict birth order but was the family member who was best able to fulfil the required role.

So in those days it was a man who could lead an army, now it might be a dutiful socially minded individual!

[Slacktide]

@IrmaFayLear

It’s funny - the Russians did away most spectacularly with their czars.

100 years later and the interest in them there is huge and the interim period is the one that is now being “forgotten”.

In fairness, though, isn't the interest in large part down to precisely the spectacular nature of the doing away with, the large numbers of Romanov pretenders claiming to be one of the executed family, the nature of the post-1918 regime etc?

I mean, there are at least two set of opposed Romanov descendants with claims to a throne that no longer exists, (not to mention Prince Philip, one of the Grosvenors and Prince Michael of Kent) but I don't see anyone inviting them back...

[Bouledeneige]

If you look at Ireland they've had some brilliant Presidents. Like Mary Robinson, Mary McAleese, Michael D Higgins each with great stature and eminent careers, intellect and culture. Yes they are titular head of state and executive power rests with the Taoiseach, but they are not empty headed cutters of ribbon. I'm sure the UK could find similarly educated and admirable people (couldn't we?).

I hate to gush but I met Michael D Higgins and he's an inspiring and eloquent speaker. A bit more interesting than our grumpy Queen.

[donewithitalltodayandxmas]

@PicsInRed know them personally do you ?